#7 – The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester (1956)

It follows the adventures of Gully Foyle, the lone survivor aboard a destroyed merchant spaceship called the Nomad. He waits in darkness for 6 months for a rescue.

When he spots another spaceship passing by, the Vorga, he fires some rescue flares and thinks he will finally be rescued.

The Vorga leaves him behind.

From that moment on, his only mission is revenge on the Captain of the Vorga. His quest takes him through a prison escape, facial reconstruction, and a slew of other craziness that I won’t spoil for you.

All this takes place in a world in which people can instantly transport themselves, or ‘jaunte’, from one place to another.

Seriously, how can this book not be good? I’ve read it many times and it is thrilling every single time.

Yes, no matter how we defend ourselves against the outside we’re always licked by something from the inside. There’s no defense against betrayal, and we all betray ourselves.